Make it possible to create shared libraries again.  The following
now works:

  ./configure \
    --disable-static-libs \
    --make-lib-cmd="gcc -shared -o" \
    --libext=".so"
update the README file
Store the absolute path to the package in a variable
In case of shared libraries link with absolute paths
make sure the config log and status files are written to the
package directory
Add a `make link' target, which rebuilds all executables
Make the link target reset the $ABSBASEDIR to the current directory.
Now the user can copy the package directory around and run `make link'
to set the absolute paths to the libraries correctly.
Add remark about relinking the executables in case the package
directory has been moved to another location.